The Times, 17 April 1812
DISTURBANCES IN THE COUNTRY.
Extract of a letter from Mrs. Goodair, at Stockport, to her husband in Town:—
Buckley Arms, Stockport, April 14, 1812.
We had been for some day sunder great apprehension of the mob. This morning, about 9 o’clock, the people began to assemble in great numbers. They halted at our large gates, (at Edgeley), and remained there for nearly an hour, calling to us at intervals to open our windows, and throwing stones in order to compel us to comply with their wishes. Finding neither of any avail, they proceeded towards this town, their numbers increasing as they proceeded along. Instead of entering by the usual road, they visited several houses and factories, where they broke all before them. They then returned to Edgeley, in number about 3,000. On perceiving them from our cottage coming down the road, I assembled the children and nurse in the parlour, and fastened the windows and doors; the gardener presently rushed into the room, and conjured us to fly that moment, if we wished to save our lives. It was with difficulty I could speak; but each snatching up a child, we escaped at the great gate just in time to avoid the rabble. We proceeded to Mrs. SYKES’s; but before we reached our destination we saw our cottage enveloped in flames. Every thing, I have since learnt, was consumed by the fire, and nothing left but a shell. The mob next proceeded to the factory, where they broke the windows, destroyed the looms, and cut all the work which was in progress; and having finished the mischief, they repeated the three cheers which they gave on seeing the flames first burst from our dwelling. Their cry was, “now for SYKES;” but before they could accomplish their wicked purpose on our friend, some military arrived, accompanied by Mr. TURNER, whose exertions have been indefatigable, He had been much distressed on seeing our house in flames, and had seen nobody to inform him of our escape. The females of Mr. SKYKES’s family are gone to Manchester for security, whilst we have taken refuge here. The post-chaise in which we came was escorted by four of the Scotch Greys. The rioters were headed by two men, dressed in women’s clothes, who were called General Ludd‘s wives. We are again left without apparel but such as the kindness of our friends supplies. Mr. SYKES has been trying to get more soldiers at Edgeley, for the rioters appear worse than ever. MARSLAND and other families have taken shelter at Manchester. Mr. GARSIDE, who endeavoured to protect our property, and even ventured to reproach the mob for their conduct, has been severely beaten and bruised.
It is now nine o’clock at night, and I learn the mob are more outrageous than ever at Edgeley. Fresh soldiers have been just sent there. Another troop of horse are expected to-night.
SHEFFIELD, APRIL 14.
I am sorry to inform you, that the spirit of riot and disorder has spread to this populous neighbourhood. Secret discontents and complaints on the subject of the high price of provisions and the want of employment, have been long gathering, and the storm has at length burst. This forenoon a numerous assemblage of the populace, men, women, and children, too place in the principal streets of the town. The leaders of the mob held a few minutes’ consultation (for they seemed to act on some previously concerted plan), and the whole body then proceeded, with violent exclamations, to the town-magazine, which they immediately forced open, and carried off, or destroyed, in a few seconds, the whole of the arms and ammunition, &c. on which they could lay their hands. No attempt whatever was made by any of the mob to arm themselves.
No time was lost on the parts of the Magistracy to quell the tumult. After every possible exertion was made to sooth the populace by means of expostulation and entreaty, the people seemed determined not to disperse, the military quartered int he town were called out, and they now remain under arms, expecting every moment to be ordered to charge through the streets.
SEVEN O’CLOCK. —Dragoons are galloping into the town from all quarters, and forming in the market-place.
HALF-PAST EIGHT O’CLOCK. —The uproar from the arrival of soldiers, horse and foot, still continues. Cannon are planted, loaded, in front of the window. A dreadful night is expected, but a more dreadful Saturday, that being market-day. The house is so busy that I cannot get pen or ink — have written therefore in pencil.
ANOTHER LETTER, SAME DATE.
At 12 o’clock to-day, about 40 or 50 poor men (who are employed in preparing a piece of land for a new burying-ground) came marching in wooden clogs into the potatoe-market [sic], where their numbers being much increased, they began to throw potatoes in every direction, breaking the windows all round the market-place, and driving the farmers and others from the market. They then proceeded to break open the potatoe-cellars, which were soon emptied of their contents One part of the mob made up High-street to Mr. Woollin’s flour-warehouse, where they broke a few squares of glass, but did no other damage. The greater part of the people then rushed to the Local Militia store-room, burst it open, and too from 6 to 800 stand of arms, which they broke in pieces. The military now arrived, and preserved the remainder. The volunteer cavalry were called together, and the Local Militia drums beat ot arms under a very strong guard. The head-quaters are at the Tontine, with a number of cannon planted before the house, The soldiers have taken several of the ring-leaders into custody: the shops are all shut in; the Riot Act has been read three times, but all to no purpose.
Two post-chaises of rioters are gone for York Castle, guarded by cavalry and two field-pieces. Artillerymen have just passed, to guard the ammunition.
CHESTER, APRIL 14.
With grief I inform you, that in this country we are threatened with scenes of riot and disorder, occasioned by the distressed experienced among the lower orders, from want of employment and the high price of provisions. Two attempts have lately been made in Stockport — one in Spencer and Co.’s in Hillgate; it is a weaving factory of vast extent, where the work is wholly done by children. Part of the window was taken out, and several torches put in. The flames were beginning to make their appearance, when a woman happened to discover them, and gave the alarm. In Stockport threatening letters have been sent to different people, signed Ned Ludd. On Saturday night, the 4th instant, a ball was fired at the proprietor of a factory, where the looms are worked by power, while sitting in his own house; and the same night another factory of the same description was assailed with stones, by which the windows were broken.
STOCKPORT, APRIL 14.
We are extremely concerned to state, that the discontents of the weavers in and about Stockport, broke out in acts of alarming violence on Tuesday last. Letters received this morning, state, that the dwelling-house of Peter Marsted, Esq. has been attacked, and the whole of the furniture destroyed. The house of Mr. Goodair, and also the factory, had been attacked, the furniture burnt, and the power-looms destroyed. The houses and factors of Messrs. Hindley and Bradshaw, Mr. W. Ratcliff, Messrs. Bentley and Co., had suffered considerably; several private meetings of the weavers had taken place, and the request for the assistance of the military from Manchester had been refused; Colonel CLAY giving for answer, that he could not consistently with his duty in protecting Manchester, afford any.
LEEDS, April 13.
The following account of the affair at Mr. Cartwright’s mill, at Rawfolds, between Cleckheaton and Littletown, may be depended upon as correct:—
About 20 or 30 minutes after twelve o’clock on Saturday night, this gig-mill was attacked by the Luddites or Snappers; and the windows and door of the mill were assailed by a furious mob., who commenced their attack by the firing of arms and the beating of hammers and hatchets. The guard in the mill instantly repelled the assault by a steady, firm and well-directed discharge of musketry from within. A regular engagement succeeded, which continued from 15 to 20 minutes, during which time, not fewer than 140 shot were discharged from within. The assailants were foiled in their attempt to force the windows or doors, and did no other damage than break the glass windows of the mill. The deluded mob did not escape unhurt. Two of the unhappy men were left wounded on the spot, and there is great reason to believe that several more received the contents of the defenders’ muskets, as traces of blood have been observed. The two wounded men were put under the care of surgeons as soon as could be done; one of them, John Booth, a tinner’s apprentice, at Huddersfield, died after having his leg amputated. Samuel Hartley, a cropper, of Huddersfield, who worked with one Webb or Webster, at the same place (and formerly with Mr. Cartwright, at Halifax) was shot through the breast; he died yesterday afternoon.
—From the direction of the shot, it is conjectured that he received his wound in the act of firing on the mill, or in an attitude similar to that of firing a musket. Several hammers, masks, and a pick-lock key were left upon the premises. Both the men died without making any confession of their accomplices; but several must have been so wounded as to lead to the knowledge of them.
Letters received yesterday state, that since the resistance made by Mr. Cartwright and his assistants, the rioters have not ventured to appear in great numbers in that neighbourhood. Of the deluded wretches concerned in that attack, two more have since died of the wounds they received on that occasion; which makes the number of lives lost four. To prevent the recurrence of similar dangers, the military no longer waited for tumultuous assemblings, but went about, dispersing the disturbers wherever they found them meeting together in small numbers.
HUDDERSFIELD.
We are sorry to hear that the riotous disposition has also shewn itself at Huddersfield, where it increased so alarming a height on Saturday night, that the interference of the military became indispensably necessary, and the resistance of the turbulent occasioned the loss of two men’s lives, who were shot, besides another being badly wounded.
MANCHESTER, APRIL 14.
Since Wednesday evening the town has been peaceable and free from alarm; but the more effectually to preserve good order, and prevent the renewal of the shameful conduct of Wednesday, the constables sent a circular letter (of which the following is a copy) to every publican in the town:—
SIR, —We are desired by the Magistrates to order all the public-houses to be shut by 7 o’clock in the evening, so long as the riotous disposition which manifested itself yesterday shall continue, to which we request your strict attention.
EDMUND LLOYD
JAMES KEARSLEY
Constables.
TRURO, CORNWALL, APRIL 13.
We have lately been thrown into some confusion by the ascent of several thousand miners from their subterraneous abode, impelled by the calls of hunger to a temporary breach of order. A regiment of Militia (the Brecon) marked towards Redruth, but the voice of the Magistrates, aided by the general expression of the public sentiment, had been found sufficient to prevent disorders. In the mean time the utmost exertions are making to obtain supplies of corn and potatoes from other counties, and economy is now the order of the day in Cornwall. The Attornies in a body have published their determination to discontinue the use of pies, custards, puddings, &c. in their families; and in fact, every thing is doing in Cornwall that can be done to husband the stock in hand. Of one thing you may be sure, nothing is to be apprehended from our miners on the score of disaffection; they are rough, hardy, untaught — but nothing except the last calls of starvation will driving them to even a temporary insubordination.
See also http://ludditebicentenary.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/14th-april-1812-rioting-loom-breaking.html
